Lung Fibrosis Is Linked to Increased Endothelial Cell Activation and Dysfunctional Vascular Barrier Integrity.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) can be a fatal disease characterized by progressive lung scarring. It is still poorly understood how the pulmonary endothelium is involved in the disease pathogenesis. Differences of the pulmonary vasculature between patients and donors were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and single-cell RNA sequencing.

The vascular perspective on acute and chronic lung disease.

The pulmonary vasculature has been frequently overlooked in acute and chronic lung diseases, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The primary emphasis in the management of these parenchymal disorders has largely revolved around the injury and aberrant repair of epithelial cells. However, there is increasing evidence that the vascular endothelium plays an active role in the development of acute and chronic lung diseases.

ARDS in the time of corona: context and perspective.

For more than 2 years, COVID-19 has been holding the world at awe with new waves of infections, novel mutants, and still limited (albeit improved) means to combat SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory failure, the most common and fatal presentation of severe COVID-19. In the present perspective, we draw from the successes and-mostly-failures in previous acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) work and the experiences from COVID-19 to define conceptual barriers that have so far hindered therapeutic breakthroughs in this deadly disease, and to open up new avenues of thinking and thus, ultimately of therapy.

The Role of Regulatory T Cells in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic, incurable condition characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, perivascular inflammation, and right heart failure. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) stave off autoimmunity, and there is increasing evidence for their compromised activity in the inflammatory milieu of PAH. Abnormal Treg function is strongly correlated with a predisposition to PAH in animals and patients.